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Winter Safety Tips From LAFD

Submitted by Carol A. Clark

on January 12, 2019 - 8:44am

By BENJAMIN STONE

EMS Division Chief

Los Alamos Fire Department

Winter storms can cause a community to see an increase in car accidents, falls, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning and heart attacks from overexertion. Storms bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. As we recently experienced, winter storms can last for several days, cause havoc on heat, power and communication services, but they also place our community members at higher risk.

Here are some tips to remember:

Prepare now!

Know your area’s risk for winter storms. Extreme winter weather can leave communities without utilities or other services for long periods of time.

Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing.

Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Do not forget the needs of pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.

Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.

Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.

Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and begin treatment right away.

Check on neighbors. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.

RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND!

Overexertion can occur when you walk briskly against a strong wind, shovel the walk, push a car out of the snow. Exertion causes a high demand on the heart to pump more oxygen around the body. If the heart has a blockage in the heart, the reduced blood flow coupled with an increased demand could result in a heart attack. Many of us have blockages we are not aware of.

Be careful about exerting yourself outdoors in winter. Pushing an inch of snow is one thing, but shoving heavy, wet, deep snowfall is very risky.

Know your limits, do not push yourself beyond what your body can handle.